Our next opponents: Battling bravely to stay up

Position

The Lilies have gone twelve games without a win. The last time they had such a negative run was in the 1981/82 season – and they went down back then. At the same time, they produced a decent performance during parts of last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Union Berlin. More impressive was the 2-2 draw in the Hessen derby at home to Eintracht Frankfurt the week before. Darmstadt came back from a two-goal deficit against Frankfurt. First, winter signing Julian Justvan pulled a goal back and then central defender Christoph Klarer rescued a point late into added time. "Today everybody saw the real Böllenfalltor,” said goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen moved by the frenetic support from the fans. They would have liked to take the momentum from the 2-2 draw against Eintracht to Berlin. The 1-0 defeat at Union particularly hurt Darmstadt as it was against another team involved in the relegation battle. "We played with too much hesitation," was the criticism from coach Thorsten Lieberknecht.

The last win was in October of last year. The 2-1 victory at FC Augsburg and the 4-2 against Werder Bremen a week before were the only wins this season. The team from South Hessen went out of the DFB-Pokal in the first round away to Regional League side FC 08 Homburg (0-3). Nevertheless, Darmstadt are not down and out in the league with eleven points. Level on points with next to bottom Mainz 05, the gap to FC Köln in sixteenth place is just one point.

Personnel

The Lilies have particularly struggled this season with problems in defence. Injuries or suspensions – including due to four red cards – have again and again forced Thorsten Lieberknecht to make changes in this section of the team. Last weekend it caught up with central defender Clemens Riedel. The 20-year-old went down in the game in Berlin and he suffered a broken ankle. Christoph Zimmerman may well replace him in central defence on Saturday. If Lieberknecht again opts for a back four against Bayer 04 then captain Fabian Holland and Matthias Bader should be first choices as the full-backs. Christoph Klarer is the established central defender alongside Zimmerman. Klaus Gjasula played as a holding midfielder in Berlin with Fabian Nürnberger and Bartol Franjic playing in attacking midfield. Nürnberger was unable to train in all the sessions this week due to an ankle problem.

Gerrit Holtmann joined the Lilies in the middle of January. The 28-year-old striker was loaned out by VfL Bochum to Antalyaspor in the summer of 2023 and has now moved on to Darmstadt. Holtmann scored the Goal of the Year in 2021 with a spectacular solo run for Bochum against Mainz. This winter, Darmstadt have also brought in midfielder Julian Justvan from TSG Hoffenheim who made a successful debut with his goal against Eintracht Frankfurt. Martin Mehlem, with three goals and two assists one of the most prolific Darmstadt players, was back in the squad last Saturday for the first time since being sidelined with a broken ankle. Up front, Tim Skarke, with six goals and two assists the most successful scorer and provider for the Lilies, and Luca Pfeiffer (one goal, six assists) should be in the starting line-up.

Performers

"There is a very positive energy in the team although being bottom of the table is not good," said new signing Julian Justvan a few days after arriving in Darmstadt. The Lilies demonstrated impressive morale in the last home game against Frankfurt. And the positive energy was not only felt in the team but also in the stands. The special atmosphere ‘am Bölle’ can still be very important in the relegation battle – even if it is not as rousing as in the Hessen derby against Eintracht Frankfurt. Darmstadt have never lacked putting in the running, the will to fight, aggression and passion this season.

Problems

SV Darmstadt 98 have conceded by far the most goals in the league. Keeper Marcel Schuhen has had to pick the ball out of the back of the net 47 times. In the Hinrunde, the Lilies conceded 13 goals in the two games against league leaders Bayer 04 (1-5) and second placed Bayern Munich (0-8). Twelve of those goals came in the second half. Darmstadt have the worst record in the Bundesliga with a total of 31 goals conceded in the second 45 minutes of games this term. The problems in defence are related to the already mentioned personal issues for Darmstadt who very often have to play with different defensive formations. They have not been able to start with their best line-up so far. And there are also problems in attack. The Lieberknecht players often lack in the ability to finish. "We prepare lots of situations well and then our thinking in the penalty area is too complicated," said the coach. Talking about the penalty area: No other team has as few touches of the ball in the opposition box as Darmstadt (340). The Werkself with 734 touches have more than double that number.

Prediction

Staying up was the main target for the newly promoted club at the start of the season. Nothing has changed. Everybody at Böllenfalltor knew it would be difficult. If the coach and team manage to stabilise the defence and the new signings can liven up the attack then a lot is possible for the team at the bottom of the table. The gap to Union Berlin in fifteenth place, which ensures staying up, is six points. Albeit the team from Köpenick has a game in hand. But because the direct rivals Mainz and Köln are not much better off than Darmstadt then the play-off position of sixteenth is within reach. And the Werkself are set to experience "the true Böllenfalltor" again on Saturday. Even though the loanee from Bochum Gerrit Holtmann has great respect for an "incredibly difficult opponent" and an "apparently unbeatable team. But they make mistakes and we have to exploit them."